Ultra-short wave tube socket



June 1, E, LPP ETAL l ULTRA-SHORT WAVE TUBE SOCKET Filed Jan. 16, 1941Patented June 1, 1943 ULTRA-SHORT WAVE TUBE SOCKET Edmund Lpp and ErwinGreifendorf, Berlin,

Germany; vested in the Alien Property Custodian Application January 16,1941, Serial No. 374,650 In Germany January 20, 1940 2 Claims.

This invention relates to the contact means forming part of the socketfor electron tubes and also refers to the lead-in pins with which theelectron tubes are provided to engage with such contact means. Theinvention aims to overcome certain disadvantages peculiar to thecustomary devices of this kind, namely, disadvantages which especiallyarise in the case of ultra-short wave tubes, and to such end does awaywith the usual construction of the contact springs of the socket.

According to the present invention the contact members which engage thelead-in pins in the base of ultra-short wave tubes are of a compositecharacter, comprising a strap of high conductive metal but lacking insubstantial resiliency and therefore must be reinforced or supplementedby spring members capable of furnishing the lack of resiliency of thestrap so that when the lead-in pins are in engagement with the contactmembers substantial spring pressure in exerted by the contact members,thus insuring good electrical contact between the lead-in pins and thecontact members.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing anelectron tube and a form of the novel contact means therefor, Fig. 2 isa sectional side elevation of this contact means, Fig. 3 a plan viewthereof, Fig. 4 is a plan View of a slightly modified form of thecontact means illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3.

The socket for the electron tube 8 is for simplicity represented by aportion of a plate 6 thereof. The contact members 2 are secured to thebase of a socket, the latter being conventionally represented as a platemember 6 provided with an aperture through which extends a bolt having ahead 3, shank 4, and nut 5. The contact members 2 are preferably aU-shaped strap of relatively non-resilient but highly conductivematerial, and may be made from a sheet metal punching, the bight ofwhich is fastened on the bolt head 3. The member 2 carries the Wire Iand to such end has edge portions a, b, c, d bent to enclose portions ofthe wire I. Wire I acts as a spring to press the free ends or edges a, bof member 2 against a lead-in pin 'I of the electron tube 8.

Instead of the sheet metal member 2 a similar member 2', Fig. 4,-may beemployed, which has only two edge portions a, b bent to engage with asteel wire spring I'. The ends of wire I need not be welded togethersince they may be inserted in holes provided in head 3 of screw 4, aswill appear from Fig. 4.

The contact lead-in pins 1, 1', Fig. 1, are globular or conical, forinstance, thus ensuring that always the same Zone thereof shall engagewith the contact means 2, I or 2', I', as the case may be.

The novel arrangement has the following advantages.

Short wave apparatus may be standardized or calibrated to perfection.The calibration will not be affected in the case of interchanging thetubes, since the lead-in pins 7, 'I' will be engaged by the contactmeans of the socket always at the same zone and in this way prevent theinductance of an oscillatory circuit, in which a tube is thus connected,from varying. In addition the globular or conical shape of the lead-inpins 1, I affords a reliable connection between tube and socket.Furthermore, the contact means 2, I or 2', I' can be made to produce agood contact pressure and the member 2 or 2', not being required to beresilient itself, may be of copper, for instance, whereas the usualContact springs should be made of bronze. Also, the manufacture of thenovel devices is advantageous from a commercial point of view since onlya simple punched part and a steel wire spring are needed for composingthe Contact means of the socket, the expenditure of material thus beingkept as low as possible.

What is claimed is:

1. A contact assembly for receiving lead-in pins of ultra-short Wavetubes as herein described, comprising a U-shaped strap of highconductive metal and having each end thereof formed into a hollow bead,the bight of the strap being fastened on a bolt, a highly resilientspring part having a portion thereof extending through each hollow beadand having another portion fastened on the bolt, so as to form a tightjunction to receive lead-in pins from the ultra-short wave tubes.

2. A contact assembly according to claim 1 wherein a bolt is arranged tohold said contact strap and resilient wire in position on a base member,the bolt having a bead into which the ends of said resilient Wire areinserted.

EDMUND LPP. ERWIN GREIFENDORF.

